MALCOLM Turnbull has been sworn in as the 29th prime minister of Australia and confirmed he has the support of the National party.

Above: Mr Turnbull being sworn in as prime minister. Image from ABC stream.

Mr Turnbull was sworn in this afternoon after winning a ballot on the Liberal party’s leadership last night 54 votes to 44.

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Julie Bishop resoundingly won a ballot on the deputy leadership against Kevin Andrews, 70 votes to 30.

There was one informal vote for the leadership and one MP missed the leadership vote.

At the start of Question Time today Mr Turnbull confirmed National party leader Warren Truss would support his leadership. The National party is the coalition party which allows the Liberal party to form government.

Shortly before Mr Turnbull was sworn in, former prime minister Tony Abbott spoke to the media. He said he would not attack the new prime minister from the back benches.

“This is not an easy day for many people in this building,” Mr Abbott told media in Canberra.

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“My pledge today is to make this change as easy as I can.

“There will be no wrecking, no undermining. I have never leaked or backgrounded against anyone and I certainly won’t start now.”